Wards Corner
Project Summary
Wards Corner is an early Edwardian building in the London Borough of Haringey. It functioned as a department and furnishing store until 1972. Since then, it has been threatened with demolition to make way for redevelopment of the area. The Wards Corner Community Coalition is made up of local traders, community groups and residents associations who were opposed to a council redevelopment scheme for the site.
Project Background
The Wards Corner Coalition is made up of local traders, community groups and residents associations who were opposed to a council redevelopment scheme for the site.
Now partially owned by Transport for London, it is proposed as the first of three projects to regenerate the area. The council proposals include demolishing the locally listed Wards Corner building to make way for 200 modern homes.
The Wards Corner Community Coalition is fighting to prevent the demolition of public place and displacement of people. They are a grassroots campaign struggling to remove barriers of inequality and reclaim the ‘Right to Place’ and involvement in the planning process.
Glass-House Involvement
The Glass-House brought in the help of East Architecture for a two-day design workshop for the Wards Corner Coalition. The aim was to enable the group to develop their understanding of the complex planning issues relevant to the regeneration scheme.
The workshops involved: analysing case studies of other regeneration schemes involving markets; a study visit of the Wards Corner building; the group creating a documentary of the area using photographs and interviews to create a shared vision of the area, and model making to visualise different options.
Community Involvement
In 2009, over 300 people attended a large public meeting to propose alternative plans for the redevelopment of Wards Corner. Wards Corner hold regular meetings and have submitted an alternative plan.
Project Support Outcomes
The Wards Corner Coalition finished the process with a variety of resources including the documentary and models which could then be used in their ongoing engagement with any redevelopment of Wards Corner.
Response from the Group
Latest Update from the Group
On Tue 22nd June 2010 The Court of Appeal stood by the Community of Tottenham and ruled in our favour, quashing the application by developers, Grainger.
In December 2011 members of the Wards Corner Community Coalition attended our Neighbourhoods by Design course to work on their community plan for the area, including the Wards Corner building itself.
June 2012 - Haringey Council granted approval for Grainger's revised plan to demolish Wards Corner. The Community Coalition continue to work on their alternative community plan and petition against the Grainger proposal.
Group Supported
Wards Corner Community Coalition
Group Location
Tottenham, London
www.wardscornercommunity.org.uk
Project Category
Neighbourhoods
Project Features
How The Glass-House helped
2-day bespoke design workshop
Project Support Outcomes
The Ward's Corner Community Coalition finished the process with a variety of resources including the documentary and models which could then be used in their ongoing engagement with any redevelopment of Ward's Corner.
Project Support Dates
Other Glass-House Support
Neighbourhoods by Design December 2011
Glass-House Enabler
East Architects
We had an excellent day and the places we visited were amazingly close to what we are trying to create here in Stockwell. I am grateful for your acute interest in what we have to say
Can I once again thank Glass-House for all their help and interest. You are an excellent organisation – and the staff are lovely as well!”
The training experience was extremely enjoyable and very informative. We have come away with a design which we feel we can put into reality and the training was probably the best I have attended.
The course was excellent and I can't thank you and Glass-House enough for the support you've given us, it has made all the difference to the way we look at the project."
